“We found a movie. It costs dollars,” Essence told me as soon as she saw me.
“Well, I’m glad we’ve got dollars to spend. Go ahead and order it.”
“OK!”
They’d chosen a minion movie. Though I was utterly uninterested, I would watch every second of the movie with them. I hadn’t watched a kids’ movie since I was a kid. Even then, I wasn’t interested in many of them.
I sat the bowls down on the table and headed for the guest bathroom right down the hall. Before getting all up in theirspace, I wanted to wash their mother’s scent from my body. As much as I loved it, I found it disrespectful to Essence and Emorey.
When I returned, everyone was already laying down and ready to start the movie. I hopped over the couch and landed right beside Ever. Emorey got down and ran over to my side once she noticed me.
“Can I lay on you side?” she asked before climbing up.
Kids never respected adults’ boundaries, so seeing her restrain from what came naturally to her made my heart ache. I knew it was because there was once a sucker in her presence that didn’t allow her in his space or possibly made her scared to even desire to be in his space. In return, she felt the need to suppress her true desire for human touch when it was the very thing that kept kids learning and growing rapidly.
“Yes. You can lay on my side, Emorey.” I pulled her up and sat her beside me.
She leaned into my side and pulled my arm over her little body. I warmed inside as I wrapped my other arm around Ever. Essence was already laying in her lap.
I tappedthe screen on my phone once my eyes had adjusted to the dark. The movie credits were rolling and everyone around me was asleep. Emorey laid in my lap, now, and Essence remained in Ever’s lap. It was just after ten but it felt like it must’ve been midnight.
The big yawn that followed a smaller one let me know I was due for a goodnight’s rest. I took a look around me and admittedly, there was no feeling in the world I’d experiencedthat was better than the one I was experiencing at the moment. Pure bliss was the only way to explain what I was feeling.
I thought I loved seeing Ever sleeping but seeing her and the girls resting around me was the real fucking highlight of my week. As much as I hated to wake them, I wanted everyone comfortable and in bed. Ever was the first I nudged.
“Hmmm?” She stirred in her sleep.
“Let’s get them to bed.”
The room next to mine was their destination. We’d already filled the drawers with their clothes and added the necessary items to the bathroom to make their time at my home easier. The kid toothpaste, small toothbrushes, and pink towels were small additions, but meant a great deal.
“OK. Take Emorey. I’ll get Essence.”
“You sure? Essence is heavier. We have to go upstairs.”
“You’re right.” She yawned. “Let me grab Emorey and you can grab Essence.”
She reached over me and grabbed Emorey from my lap. I slid Essence toward me and then lifted her into my arms. Ever and Emorey took off for the stairs and we followed. As Ever grew tired as we ascended, I felt the need to relieve her of Emorey, too.
“Here, let me take her, too.”
“You sure?”
“There’s enough room in my arms for them both. Go ahead to bed. I can handle them.”
“I can help.”
“I got it,” I assured her as I pulled Emorey into my arm.
“OK.”
Ever waited on the same step as I continued. I cut on the light in the hallway before entering their room so that I could keep the light off when I laid them down. However, I wasn’t familiar with my surroundings, so I needed to be able to see where I was going. Once I had Emorey down, I laid Essence down next.Neither even stirred a little. Hard ass sleepers, I concluded as I backed out of the room. When I made it to my bedroom, Ever was already in bed underneath the covers. I climbed in after her and pulled her closer to me. And just as we were, we both fell into a deep sleep.
“Wake up,guys. It’s morning time.” Emorey’s little voice woke me from my sleep.
I opened my eyes to find her bouncing on the bed beside us. Essence sat at the edge, swinging her feet and looking up toward our direction. Ever’s eyes were open, but she still hadn’t said a word. It seemed as if she’d rather be sleeping than watching her toddler jump around in bed.
“It’s morning time. It’s morning time,” Emorey repeated over and over again.
